Tuesday, July 2, 2013

Where Are The New Albums? July 2013 Update

As it's the second of the month, it's time for our first monthly feature post of 2013, and it's this month's "Where Are The New Albums?" installment! As always, this post looks at the current release statuses and whereabouts of Sault Ontario metal/hard rock albums that have at least begun recording sessions, but aren't out yet. This month's installment has one removed album due to it's release last month (Crimson Crusade's "Upon The Eve Of War"), and we're also taking one out of the series this month due to the unlikelihood of an imminent release, but we still have 11 albums from 9 local acts to explore (including one new addition, and three with updated info, as indicated with the title in italics.) With that said, read on below to find out where the new albums are!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------As It Stands' third EP

Background:Continuing
their high success levels since their local re-emergence in
2010, hardcore quintet As It Stands started recording sessions
for their third EP with Metalworks Studios in Mississauga in July 2011 with producer Kevin Dietz.
The sessions lasted just a few days, but from what I hear, a
lot got accomplished! You can see some of the happenings from
the sessions on their official studio vlog,
which features some audio samples and video of some members
recording their parts. The vlog also confirmed that their cover of
Blink-182's "Stay Together For The Kids" was recorded in
Mississauga, and that the songs will be part of an EP, not a full
length album as was previously believed. It's currently unclear
whether the songs they recorded at Stereo Soul Studios
in 2010 and/or in Stoney Creek in 2011 will be featured on the
EP in some form. A new track named "Oh Herm, Herm Delish"
was posted onto SoundCloud in early 2012, with studio copies of "Conception" & "Big Problem, Little Lock City" also being uploaded to their Facebook page this year, both of which you can stream at this location.
Mixing was underway locally with Brendan Clace at the former Dimension
Studios, so stay tuned for more news on this EP hopefully soon!

Current Release Status: I have no idea if As It Stands are even still an active band, given their 10 month hiatus since their last show (during which time Dimensions Studios closed), but they did seem to have everything under control and well
planned for the sessions and their studio work. At this point, I think fans would be excited to just see As It Stands live again, but just in case, keep an eye out for
any possible updates!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------The Bear Hunters' full length demoRumoured Songs:
"Bloodthirst", "Succumb To Eternity", "Dominate",
"Overthrown", "Casualties Of War", "Collapse The Sun", "Render
This Void", "Karma", "Deception", "Servitude"

Background:Local
death metal quintet The Bear Hunters formally announced that
they'd begun recording for their debut EP "Bloodthirst" in May 2011,
just days after adding guitarist Josh Stephney to the band. The
news was broken on their Facebook page,
but details were extremely scant following that news, and the
recording plans fell dormant until January 2012, when the band announced
plans to record material towards a full length demo release. This
appears to be an independent
production towards future better quality recordings, and plans are in
place to release official band t-shirts along with the demos when
completed. Plans are
for this demo (which won't be "slapped together") to feature at least
10 songs, and though progress has been made towards completions,
setbacks (including a dead computer) have pushed back a planned release,
including their non-album cover of Woods of Ypres' "Kiss My Ashes
(Goodbye)". As of February 2013, guitar recording had begun for the album, and stay tuned to the band's Facebook page for continued
updates!

Current Release Status:
Though things seem to have been delayed from original expectations,
recordings for the demo are ongoing as per their Facebook page. Note that concert dates have picked up, and no new timeline is out for the
release of it beyond before "the end of the world", but they seem to
have things in
good order, so keep an eye out for updates on official Bear Hunters
media as it comes in!
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Gates of Winter - Perihelion

Background: Despite
a hiatus from live concerts lasting over 4 years, Gates of
Winter never broke up, and are slowly working on their follow-up
to 2008's "Lux Aeterna". The first glimpse of the new album
was unveiled in February 2010, when frontman/producer Lee Maines uploaded a snippet of their new song "The Stars Call My True Name" onto his YouTube channel,
and he followed that up with more demo & rehearsal clips
sporadically over the last couple of years, though all were later taken
down. The band launched a new Facebook page
in August 2010 to keep fans updated on the sessions, including
the unveiling of a new song title, "Time Warp", and while Sault
native Jon Morrison
was announced as the album's drummer that fall, the album will feature programmed drums. In November 2011, bassist Steve
Furgiuele confirmed in a YouTube video
that the album, now titled "Perihelion", was planned for release
in
December 2012, with some older re-recordings likely for the
summer, but Lee confirmed last month that the album would be delayed
further, be retracted to EP length, and possibly be renamed. Other new
songs, tentatively called "Wormhole Mechanics" & "Prometheus",
was previewed in this video
& this video that were uploaded last year & last month respectively. Whether
ex-keyboardist Brian Holmes will be included on the EP is currently unknown.

Current Release Status: According to Lee's posting on the Musicians Wanted Facebook group
relating to their session drummer search, he's hoping for the work to
be done "within the next 4-12 months", which lines up with postings
about delays for the EP. Personal commitments and the like have slowed
things down incredibly, and there's been no public band postings in 4
months, but good art takes time, and knowing Gates of
Winter's
talent and attention to detail, they won't wanna release this until
everything's perfect. I'll admit that I know a bit more on "Perihelion"
than what I've posted here, but I'll wait until more public word comes
out before elaborating, so keep an eye out for updates!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------Mike Haggith- Where It Ends

Rumoured Songs:
"Grace"

Background: Late last month, prolific local musician Mike Haggith announced that "Where It Ends" will be the name of his 47th solo album, pushing his previously announced "The Tower" back perhaps to next year. To be recorded & released through Galactic Records like his past releases, an instrumental mix of one song was posted onto his Facebook page on June 22nd, taking on an orchestral rock feel, though it's not known yet if this will be the album's general theme. Little else has been revealed beyond the cover art, but recording sessions have begun, so check the above links to stay in the loop!

Current Release Status: According to Mike, this album is lined up for a release in the fall of this year, which I tend to believe, as Mike's always been forthcoming and honest for release dates and changes to them. That said, there's a lot of extra info and material to be recorded and publicized in the meantime, so stay tuned to Mike's solo project's pages for all current updates!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pillory - Cringe At The Cross

Background: On
January 10th, new local thrash band Pillory surprisingly announced that
they would begin recording tracks towards their debut EP this weekend,
despite only making their live debut in November. Since then, updates
have been posted on their Facebook page
confirming the EP's title, the completion of recording sessions, and EP
artwork concepts by ex-bassist Jonathan Tiberi. It's currently unclear
how late
guitarist Andres Duchesne's parts were handled on the recordings, but
while the band has been searching for a replacement in recent months,
the concept artwork does
credit him with the surviving members, so take that for what you will.
Keep an eye out for further updates!

Current Release Status: As per
their Facebook page on May 16th, Pillory are currently aiming for the
release to occur "sometime this summer", which coincided with the reveal
of Cole Royal as their new bassist (though I don't expect that they
re-recorded Jon's bass parts given his involvement with the EP's production.) The
quick launch into recording after their debut does mirror Jon's early
tenure with Late & Loud,
who announced recording plans and held photo shoots to that end shortly
after their own 2010 debut, but a firm release date is still out in the open. The guys definitely seemed deep into the
process though, so fingers
crossed everything works out!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------Shit Liver's debut EP

Background: Curiously
not plugged at all on their online pages until January 2013, I have
heard from those close
to the band that local grimecore trio Shit Liver have independently
working on a debut EP since at least mid-2012 which is supposed to have
14 songs, 13 of which were posted onto their new Reverbnation page in March 2013. A demo disc with 5 planned tracks was visible at
their local return on February 21st, but as they've only minimally
acknowledged EP plans
online, it's not clear how far along they are in terms of actually releasing these on disc. I'll keep you guys
updated if they say anything!

Current Release Status: On their Facebook page in March, Shit Liver implied that this album could be done by their local concert return in February at The Roosevelt Hotel,
but that has since came & went. Given how quiet they've been on
the recording sessions, I have no idea how close to a physical release
they are, but from what I understand, the sessions are done or close to
it. Hopefully we hear some
big news on this front soon, possibly in conjunction with future concerts!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------The Suicide Kings - King of the World

Background: Already off to a quick
launch with numerous concerts since their fall 2012 debut, local hard
rock quartet The Suicide Kings surprisingly announced that they were
officially working on their first EP on their Facebook page
on February 1st. Three weeks later, the band revealed in another
Facebook posting that they were busy working on their own material, and
they had plans to complete an EP by the end of the spring featuring 5-7
songs, which was recorded over the past month at The Smoke & Oak Room Studio with producer Dave Pihlaja. As of March 28th, the tracks
were in the final stages of mixing, though recent updates have been
limited to in-concert teasers of the EP, where the reveal of the title
came from. Stay tuned for more!

Current Release Status: With the EP likely done it's recording phase, it's now likely a waiting game for the release of "King of the World". I know that a brief band member posting on
Facebook suggested a free distribution of the EP, but that was either
premature or incorrect. I just hope this doesn't encounter the same
delays that have hampered bassist Mitch Sirie's other band The Bear
Hunters' demo recording plans. Things seem in good hands so far, so
watch out for updates as they come in!
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sykotyk Rampage - "Eye For An Eye", "Sykotyk Rampage", and "Wonder About Baby"

Rumoured Songs: Unknown

Background: Just days after posting streaming copies of their six albums from 2012 onto their Reverbnation page, Sykotyk Rampage unveiled the album covers
towards at least three new albums scheduled for a release in 2013,
although when they'll actually be available for streaming and/or
purchase isn't clear. Expected to be their first recorded material with
new bassist Tony Briglio, the three credited albums are listed as
Sykotyk Rampage's 38th to 40th albums, implying that they have at least 2
other unannounced albums in the works (as they've only released 35 to
date.) Recording sessions have started this spring at River Front
Recreation Studios, but keep an eye out for updates!

Current Release Status:
Initial indications are that the band will release these this summer,
but take that with a huge grain of salt, as publically available copies
of Sykotyk Rampage's early 2010s albums have been posted months later
than the given release dates. As well, the band's last 8 albums have
only been made available in free streaming copies, with no full album
purchasing or packaging options, so make note of that as well. Still,
Sykotyk Rampage's prolific and creative blend of alternative, blues, and
hard rock will be hard to ignore, so stay tuned for their next
releases!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------Tym Morrison's second solo album

Background: I
honestly don't know a lot about the background for Tym
Morrison's second album, but he has posted samples of nine songs
for his "next album" onto the music player on his official website.
The songs are all of good quality, and feature Tym in
familiarly good form! Original information about recording
sessions for his solo album are either very sparse or were made
quite a while ago, so I don't know a lot about it, but the
songs were likely self-recorded at Morrison Studio Productions
with Tym on all instruments save for the programmed drums. He's
worked on the album sporadically since, including scattered song
postings (with some of a comedic or acoustic nature) onto his YouTube channel, and Facebook
postings have hinted at a double album release. It's unknown how close we are to
seeing a second Tym Morrison album release, or if all of the originally
announced songs will make the cut, but keep an eye out!

Current Release Status:
I don't have any real idea, but his recent song postings hint
towards good things! Hopefully Tym does release
these songs in the near future, as his older samples and newer
material deserve an audience, but for now, check out the above
links to hear what he has to share that could make the cut!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------Along with the above information, I've reluctantly decided to remove an album from the series due to what I see as an unlikely imminent release, so here's what you should know:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------Winkstinger's debut EP

Background: Winkstinger initially confirmed on March 15th, 2012 on their Facebook page
that recording had begun for their debut EP. Anything else from official band pages was
open-ended or minimal, but guitarist Jesse Cook also kept fans
posted on the recording sessions for the band's first EP on his personal
Facebook page, noting that recording took place from the 15th through
the 27th, with mixing done and some lyric finalization left. I assume
this EP was being self-produced and recorded, but again, the band never said publically about it or it's possible track listing,
length, release formats, or anything else. In May 2012, the band posted 5
demos from the sessions onto their SoundCloud page, but nothing followed relating to the EP before their 10 month hiatus and lineup overhaul, and nothing's been publically heard about it's progress since.

Reason For Removal: While Winkstinger are alive and well, and still play songs projected for the EP live, I can't foresee a formal release for it at present. Public information on it has always been minimal, the delays since the March recording sessions have been lengthy, and with then-members Jason Ladouceur & Ryan Sherman now out of the band, it's not adding up well. Of course, I may be way off base, and things might just be intentionally quiet or waiting for a better time, but right now, I can't see Winkstinger imminently releasing this EP. Definitely stream the 5 demos on SoundCloud though, as I have a feeling those would have been the EP's final tracks!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I hope you guys liked this month's "Where Are The New Albums?" post, and of course, stay tuned for our next monthly feature post (a Defunct Local Band Profile on Sneaky Pete one week from tomorrow), barring an early review of the Woods of Ypres tribute album! That's all for today, but stay tuned for two news posts tomorrow, one relating to each side of the Twin Saults! Thanks everyone!